Your Vote, Your Deadline: Early Voting and Mail-Ballot Dates in 10 Battleground States
The Senate and four governor's races could come down to a few thousand votes. Don't let a missed deadline cost you yours. Every date below comes straight from your state's official election office.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS ANALYSIS | VOTER GUIDE | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | 6-min read Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. But in most battleground states, voting is already under way, and some mail-ballot deadlines arrive this week. This guide covers the 10 states with the closest Senate or governor races, according to the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball [1][2]. They are Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. Our rules for this guide: Every date comes from the official state election office, or, in one case, the official county office, and we link to it. Times are local. Rules can change. If anything here differs from your state's official site or your local election office, the official source wins. Call them. Key Takeaways Iowa's deadline is first. Mailed-ballot requests must reach your county auditor by 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 [3]. Texas early voting opens Monday, Oct. 19. Texas mail-ballot applications must be received by Friday, Oct. 23 [4]. Georgia's absentee requests are due the same day [5]. If you already have a mail ballot, return it now. Several states only count ballots that arrive by Election Day. The Deadlines, State by State ALASKA (Senate: Sullivan vs. Peltola) Early and in-person absentee voting begins Monday, Oct. 19 [6]. Absentee by-mail applications must be received by Saturday, Oct. 24 [6]. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3. Ballots mailed within